Around 1,000 watches will be distributed to frontline rail staff to help trains run on time.

East coast train operator GNER are giving the radio-controlled watches to staff as part of a new punctuality drive

The watches will automatically adjust themselves once a day in response to a time signal from an atomic clock - even if the watch is a fraction of a second out it will correct itself to the right time.

GNER drivers, on-train crews, including customer service assistant Michael Kenny, and train dispatchers on stations are among those being issued with the watches as part of a wider campaign called This Time It's Personal.

Ken Groundwater, GNER performance delivery manager, said: "Research showed that old watches used by train dispatchers could vary by up to 90 seconds.

"This is not acceptable if we are to run our railway with the precision of the Japanese or the Swiss.

"With the new watches everyone from Inverness to King's Cross can be absolutely confident we are all working to the same time.

"Making sure our trains run on time is vital to delivering customer service."

GNER is also working with Virgin West Coast to share best practice. Both companies operate long-distance inter-city services and the new watches are planned to help both operators run on time.